Stories tracking Jacksonville’s downtown growth, redevelopment projects, and efforts to revitalize the city’s urban core.
Featured image for “JTA studies Skyway options and postpones community meetings”
Skyway cars move into the LaVilla station of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
May 5, 2026

JTA studies Skyway options and postpones community meetings

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority says it will reschedule a second round of meetings.…

Featured image for “Does Downtown Jacksonville need more office space? Some are betting yes.”
Gateway Jax Inc. wants to build 100,000 square feet of office space in its $750 million Pearl Square development Downtown. | Gateway Jax Inc.
May 1, 2026

Does Downtown Jacksonville need more office space? Some are betting yes.

Office vacancy rates are higher than most cities, but there still might be a need for high-end space.…

Featured image for “Proposed seafood restaurant recommended for Riverfront Plaza”
A Downtown Investment Authority committee voted 3-0 on Thursday to move forward with plans for a restaurant at Riverfront Plaza on the Downtown Northbank. | The Choptank via Jacksonville Daily Record
May 1, 2026

Proposed seafood restaurant recommended for Riverfront Plaza

A Baltimore restaurant group proposes to operate the restaurant on the park’s southwest corner.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville keeps dishing out incentives — but will that change?”
The Mag’s Cafe building is one of two historic building renovations projects the Jacksonville City Council awarded incentives on Tuesday. | Dan Macdonald, Jacksonville Daily Record
April 29, 2026

Jacksonville keeps dishing out incentives — but will that change?

City lawmakers are growing uncomfortable with the amount of incentives awarded for development.…

Featured image for “Permit issued for another phase of Pearl Square”
Gateway Jax's Block N8 will comprise 537 rentals, including 143 short-term units. | Jacksonville Daily Record
April 15, 2026

Permit issued for another phase of Pearl Square

This portion of the Pearl Square downtown development will include apartments, retail, restaurants, a gym and more.…

Featured image for “The Merrydelle: Historic Ambassador Hotel renamed under Marriott brand”
A conceptual illustration of the renovated Ambassador Hotel — renamed as Hotel Merrydelle — in Downtown Jacksonville. | Gateway Jax Inc.
April 9, 2026

The Merrydelle: Historic Ambassador Hotel renamed under Marriott brand

The announcement comes as the city’s design review board gives Hotel Merrydelle its final approval to proceed.…

Featured image for “Construction coming soon on Southbank residential tower”
The Related Group’s South Bank Residences is planned on the Downtown Jacksonville Southbank where the River City Brewing Co. restaurant was demolished. | Jacksonville Daily Record
April 9, 2026

Construction coming soon on Southbank residential tower

Mayor Donna Degan says the Related Group will break ground next month at the former River City Brewery site.…

Featured image for “Hotel and convention center proposed at Ford on Bay”
A rendering shows the $160 million hotel, convention center and office project proposed by Corner Lot and investment partner Aspect Holdings LLC at 330 E. Bay St. on the Downtown Jacksonville Northbank. | Jacksonville Daily Record
April 2, 2026

Hotel and convention center proposed at Ford on Bay

Corner Lot and Aspect Holdings propose a hotel, convention center and office space at the former Duval courthouse site.…

Featured image for “Collapsed HQ sale now a ‘legal matter’ for Duval Schools”
Duval Schools' headquarters building, pictured here in March 2026, was going to be sold to Chase Properties, but the deal collapsed. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
March 26, 2026

Collapsed HQ sale now a ‘legal matter’ for Duval Schools

The HQ sale that fell through last month could now be a legal headache for Duval Schools.…

Featured image for “MOSH offers first look at 3 of its planned galleries”
MOSH has released renderings of three of 10 galleries at its planned Northbank museum. This one is called Nature & Culture. | MOSH, Ralph Appelbaum Associates
March 23, 2026

MOSH offers first look at 3 of its planned galleries

MOSH released illustrations of three galleries as it continues to raise money for a new Northbank museum.…

Featured image for “JEA board approves sale of former headquarters”
Live Oak Contracting plans to transform the former JEA headquarters campus in Downtown Jacksonville into The Jewel at 21 West. | Jacksonville Daily Record
February 24, 2026

JEA board approves sale of former headquarters

Live Oak Contracting plans to convert the JEA building into residential units, offices and rooftop amenities.…

Featured image for “JTA seeks comments on next phase of driverless shuttles”
Skyway cars move into the LaVilla station of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
February 23, 2026

JTA seeks comments on next phase of driverless shuttles

Public meetings will start this week to share information about the shuttles, known as the Ultimate Urban Circulator.…

Featured image for “EverBank seeks $10M to keep headquarters Downtown”
EverBank Center is at 301 W. Bay St. in Downtown Jacksonville. | Monty Zickuhr, Jacksonville Daily Record
February 9, 2026

EverBank seeks $10M to keep headquarters Downtown

EverBank wants taxpayer incentives to make up for the cost of operating Downtown instead of the suburbs.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville’s 60-year-old federal building could be sold”
Federal officials are considering the sale of the Charles E. Bennett Federal Building due to low occupancy and high maintenance costs. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
February 2, 2026

Jacksonville’s 60-year-old federal building could be sold

A federal panel is considering whether to sell the Charles E. Bennett Federal Building in Downtown Jacksonville.…

Featured image for “OPINION | The politics of last call: Should Downtown bars serve ’til 3?”
Downtown bars like Decca Live could serve for an extra hour under a proposal. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
February 1, 2026

OPINION | The politics of last call: Should Downtown bars serve ’til 3?

Should Downtown bars be allowed to serve alcohol for an extra hour?…

Featured image for “MOSH construction on Northbank might start later”
The Museum of Science & History plans a new, larger museum on the Northbank. | MOSH
January 28, 2026

MOSH construction on Northbank might start later

MOSH leaders now have until Sept. 1 to start construction of their new Northbank facility.…

Featured image for “Plans move ahead for restaurant at Riverfront Plaza”
A city-owned restaurant is planned in Riverfront Plaza, the park at the former site of the Jacksonville Landing in Downtown. | Jacksonville Daily Record
January 22, 2026

Plans move ahead for restaurant at Riverfront Plaza

The city would own the restaurant at Riverfront Plaza and choose an operator to build out the structure.…

Featured image for “Gateway Jax begins to transform lighthouse garage”
The Pearl Street retail corridor planned by Gateway Jax. | Gateway Jax
January 21, 2026

Gateway Jax begins to transform lighthouse garage

The development will anchor a retail corridor that Gateway Jax plans along Beaver Street in the Pearl Square neighborhood.…

Featured image for “Autonomous NAVI shuttles could extend to the Beaches”
A NAVI autonomous shuttle moves through traffic on East Bay Street in Downtown Jacksonville. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
January 21, 2026

Autonomous NAVI shuttles could extend to the Beaches

NAVI ultimately could replace JTA’s Beach Buggy ride service in the Beaches, CEO Nat Ford says.…

Featured image for “Baptist Health plans 15-story hotel on Southbank”
The Baptist Health hotel would be built at 1051 Palm Ave. on the Downtown Southbank. | Jacksonville Daily Record
January 12, 2026

Baptist Health plans 15-story hotel on Southbank

The $110 million, four-star hotel would serve patients’ families, but it would be open to the public as well.…

Featured image for “Southbank residential tower in review for permits”
The Related Group’s South Bank Residences is planned at 835 Museum Circle, on the Downtown Jacksonville Southbank where the River City Brewing Co. restaurant was demolished. | Jacksonville Daily Record
January 12, 2026

Southbank residential tower in review for permits

The Related Group plans the tower next to Friendship Fountain, where the River City Brewery once operated.…

Featured image for “Starbucks gets permit to build in Bank of America Tower”
An illustration shows the interior of the proposed Starbucks in Downtown Jacksonville. | City of Jacksonville
December 29, 2025

Starbucks gets permit to build in Bank of America Tower

The city issued a permit for Starbucks to build on the ground floor of the building’s southeast corner.…

Featured image for “Indiana developer says it’s buying Laura Street Trio”
The Laura Street Trio has been deteriorating for decades. | Jessica Palombo, Jacksonville Today
December 5, 2025

Indiana developer says it’s buying Laura Street Trio

Becovic Management Group says it is buying the restored Barnett National Bank Building in addition to the Laura Street Trio.…

Featured image for “Main Street Bridge could become a national landmark”
The Main Street Bridge is featured on a vintage postcard | Jessica Palombo, Jacksonville Today
December 4, 2025

Main Street Bridge could become a national landmark

City lawmakers want to add the iconic Main Street Bridge to the National Register of Historic Places.…